The 4th SEAMEO RIHED-ACC Study Visit Programme to China

On Enhancing Higher Education Collaboration in the Fields of Foreign Language and Culture, Tourism and Hospitality, Tropical Agriculture, Tropical Medicine, and Marine Science

23-30 April 2017 in Haikou-Sanya, Hainan Province, P.R. China

Following the success of the three previous study visit programmes to China, SEAMEO RIHED, in collaboration with the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and the Education Department of Hainan Province (EDHP), organised the 4th SEAMEO RIHED-ACC Study Visit Programme to China from 23-30 April 2017 to visit Hainan Province (Haikou and Sanya) of P.R. China. The Programme was exclusively designed for institutional leaders and higher education officials from Southeast Asia to provide extensive opportunity to gain in-depth understanding of the Chinese higher education system and its outstanding institutions in Hainan Province, and to explore networking and future academic collaborations, particularly in the fields of Foreign Language and Culture, Tourism and Hospitality, Tropical Agriculture, Tropical Medicine, and Marine Science.

SEAMEO RIHED would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and the Education Department of Hainan Province (EDHP) for their generous support and kind collaboration for making this Study Visit Programme possible.

During the Study Visit, 12 delegates from 7 Southeast Asian Countries had the opportunity to visit 7 renowned institutions in Haikou and Sanya of Hainan Province, namely Hainan University, Hainan Normal University, Hainan Medical University, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Hainan Foreign Language College of Professional Education, Sanya University, and the Spice and Beverage Research Institute. Taking the privilege of being the only Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in China, Hainan Province has recently become a captivating spot for both tourism and investment. In order to respond to a massive growth, the Hainan Provincial Government has continuously implemented a strategy of developing Hainan through education and technology.

In addition, “the 2017 ASEAN-China Seminar on Academic Research & Exchanges: Foster Educational Quality through International Collaboration: Academic Research and Exchange between Hainan and ASEAN” was convened on 26 April 2017 at Baohua Harbour View Hotel. Participants from both ASEAN and China introduced their institutions and actively discussed the possibility of future academic cooperation and exchanges between ASEAN and Hainan HEIs.

Delegates from ASEAN and Hainan HEIs, SEAMEO RIHED, ACC, and EDHP taking a group photo during the 2017 ASEAN-China Seminar on Academic Research & Exchanges: Foster Educational Quality through International Collaboration: Academic Research and Exchange between Hainan and ASEAN

H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) during her welcome speech at the Seminar emphasising the importance of education cooperation and exchanges between China and ASEAN

Mr. Li Yuenan, Deputy Director General of the Education Department of Hainan Province (EDHP) delivering his welcome speech highlighting the strong ties between Hainan and ASEAN particularly in education cooperation and exchanges as well as trade and investment